British troops set for Nato mission in Baltics

British troops are to be deployed to the Baltics as part of a long-term Nato mission to deter Russian aggression.

Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said a "small number" of soldiers would be stationed there to "watch over our allies on the eastern borders".

RAF Typhoon fighters are already in the region as part of the Baltic Air Policing detachment and have been called into action in recent months.

In June, Typhoons were scrambled from Amari Air base in Estonia to intercept and shadow two Russian military aircraft over the Baltic Sea.

Fallon said: "This is part of our more persistent presence on the eastern side of Nato to respond to any further provocation and aggression."

Russia is making a very serious situation in Syria much more dangerous, the Defence Secretary has said.

Michael Fallon said if Russia wanted to help the best thing they could do is use their influence to stop President Assad from bombing his own civilians.

He added they must also stop using unguided missiles in Syria.

The Russian Ministry of Defence has posted a video showing its military forces firing rockets off the deck of a warship in the Caspian Sea.

According to confirmation by the country's defence minister Sergei Shoigu four of Russia's military warships targeted Islamic State targets in Syria with 26 missile strikes as part of its pre-emptive operation against terrorism in the Middle East.

Russia has been carrying out air strikes in Syria at the request of Syrian president Bashar Al Assad but concerns have been raised about who is really being targeted,

Earlier this week Nato told Russia to stop its attacks on civilians and Syrian rebels and concentrate on fighting Islamic State.

Today's rocket attack follows the first reported major co-ordinated assault on Syrian rebels by Syrian forces on the ground and Russian military in the air.

• Russia's air strikes in Syria: What you need to know

Russian President Vladimir Putin has confirmed that his military's warships, based in the Caspian Sea, have launched rockets on Islamic State.

According to local news agency RIA a total of 26 rockets were launched from four ships.

The head of the Iraqi parliament's Security and Defence Committee has said Iraq is considering asking Russia to carry out air strikes against Islamic State on its soil.

Hakim al-Zamili told Reuters that depending on the Russians success in Syria they may be called in for help.

He said: "We might be forced to ask Russia to launch air strikes in Iraq soon.

"I think in the upcoming few days or weeks Iraq will be forced to ask Russia to launch air strikes and that depends on their success in Syria."

Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has said Turkey "will not compromise" on the security of its airspace and warned further violations by Russian warplanes will be viewed as a threat.

Davutoglu issued the warning during a live state TV broadcast today after it was revealed Russian warplanes violated Turkey's airspace for a second time on Sunday.

Despite the warning the PM has said he does not want conflict in Syria to turn into a crisis between Russia and NATO, or escalate into a Russian-Turkish dispute, and said an offer by the Russians to "meet and discuss the issue" has been welcomed.

Syrian and Russian military forces have carried out their first major co-ordinated assault on Syrian rebels, according to a monitoring group in the area.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the national army and allied militia carried out ground attacks on at least four insurgent positions as Russian air strikes targeted northern parts of Hama province on Wednesday.

Head of the Observatory Rami Abdulrahman said: "There is no information yet of any (government) advances on the ground, but the air strikes have hit vehicles and insurgent bases."

A Russian warplane violated Turkey's airspace for a second time on Sunday, said the Turkish Foreign Ministry.

The ministry summoned the Russian ambassador late on Monday to protest against the violation.

Turkish jets were scrambled after a Russian warplane violated Turkey's air space on Saturday but Russia blamed a "navigational error".

The Cold War adversaries believe in different solutions to end Syria's civil war.

Turkey's belief is that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has to go for the conflict to end whereas Russia backs the Syrian leader. Turkey, a Nato member, has called the Russian strikes a "grave mistake".

Nato has told Russia to stop its attacks on civilians and Syrian rebels and concentrate on fighting Islamic State.

Nato said in a statement: "Allies call on the Russian Federation to immediately cease its attacks on the Syrian opposition and civilians, to focus its efforts on fighting ISIL, and to promote a solution to the conflict through a political transition."